Approximate run time: 2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission
Run time and other details are subject to change during rehearsal process.

The AbominablesProduced in association with The Civilians Written by Steve CossonMusic and Lyrics by Michael FriedmanDirected by Steve CossonChoreographer Joe ChvalaA Children’s Theatre Company Commissioned World Premiere Best enjoyed by age 8+

Rink rats, hockey moms, tournament weekends and the quest to play your best – It’s tryout season in the Great State of Hockey! Mitch has always played on the A team for the Prairie Lake Blizzards – these are his guys – they've played together forever, but he's worried this could be the year he gets sent down to the B team. When a new “kid” appears at Bantam tryouts, things go from bad to worse. From the land of ice and nice comes the first Minnesota hockey musical! Will you love it? You betcha!

About The CiviliansThe Civilians is a company that creates new theater from creative investigations into the most vital questions of the present. Through a number of artistic programs, The Civilians advances theater as an engine of artistic innovation and strengthens the connections between theater and society. An artist-led company, The Civilians creates and produces new theater and pursues its artistic mission through programs serving artists and the public.

Cast

HENRY CONSTABLE (Mitch Munson)
Henry is thrilled to be making his CTC debut in The Abominables. Henry has appeared on many local stages, including A Christmas Carol and The Music Man (Guthrie Theater); The Little Mermaid and Hello Dolly! (Chanhassen Dinner Theater); Oliver! {Theater Latté Da); Camelot National Tour (Ordway Theater and Stages Theater.) Most recently, Henry appeared as Rapunzel's Prince in Into the Woods at Minnetonka Theater. Henry started acting at a very early age and has appeared in several national, regional and local ad campaigns, as well as local and feature films. Henry splits his time between Minneapolis and Los Angeles actively pursuing his passion for acting.
henryconstable.com

AUTUMN NESS (Ellen Munson) Autumn is so proud to be celebrating her 18th season as a member of the CTC Acting Company! Some favorite roles include: the Stepmother in Cinderella; Bagheera in The Jungle Book; Mom in Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical; Fiona in Shrek the Musical; Peter Pan the Musical; Betsy Bear in Busytown the Musical; The Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland; The Biggest Little House in the Forest; Mrs. Cobb in Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy; A Wrinkle in Time; Lily St. Regis in Annie; Mother in A Christmas Story; Nurse in Romeo and Juliet; White Witch in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; PROM; and Mississippi Panorama. When she's not performing, Autumn can be found at the apple orchard with her company member husband, Reed, and her sons, Sawyer and Sullivan.

REED SIGMUND (Charlie Munson) Reed is embarrassed to admit that he is officially the worst hockey player in the world. Truly. He can't skate. He can't shoot. He can't even remember all the rules. Also, he lacks basic coordination skills. Still, Reed enjoys watching hockey, and eating both sweet and salty snacks while doing so. When not snacking in local arena stands, Reed can usually be found here at Children's Theatre Company. This is his 18th season at CTC, where he's appeared in numerous shows, including: Cinderella; The Wizard of Oz; Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas; and A Year with Frog & Toad. Away from the stage, Reed enjoys adventures with his darling wife, Autumn, and their two huggable fellas, Sawyer & Sully.

NATALIE TRAN (Tracy Munson) Natalie is thrilled to be back at CTC after appearing in Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches the Musical; two productions of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas; and The Wizard of Oz. Other credits include Sunday in the Park with George; Sense and Sensibility; South Pacific; and The Music Man (Guthrie Theater); White Christmas and The Sound of Music (Ordway Center for Performing Arts). She also worked with Theater Latté Da, Walking Shadow Theatre Company, Jungle Theater, Second Fiddle, Artistry, Mixed Precipitation, Lyric Arts, Fidgety Fairy Tales, Top Hat Theatre and Minnesota Fringe Festival. Natalie will return to CTC’s upcoming production of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas as Young Max.

RYAN COLBERT (Harry) Ryan is thrilled to be back at The Children’s Theatre where he recently made his debut in Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches the Musical. A Minneapolis native, Ryan has had the fortune of working with many Twin Cities theater companies since graduating from the University of MN/Guthrie BFA Actor training program, including: The Guthrie (Choir Boy; A Christmas Carol; Born Yesterday); Mixed Blood Theatre (Charm; Colossal); Park Square Theatre (Great Expectations; Romeo & Juliet; Calendar Girls; The Color Purple); RedBird Theater (Time to Burn); New Epic Theater (Now or Later; Picture of Dorian Gray); as well as Theater Latté Da, Red Eye Theater, and the Public Theater of MN. Ryan is a recipient of a 2016 Ivey award for Outstanding Ensemble.

ELISE BENSON (Judy) Elise excitedly returns to CTC, where she was last seen in Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches the Musical and A Year with Frog and Toad! She moved back to Minneapolis from New York to work with the wonderful artists at CTC after accepting the 2016/2017 Performing Apprenticeship position. Since graduating from the University of MN - Duluth in 2015, Elise has directed several musicals, produced her own concert, was a part of Open Jar Institute in NY and performed in the new musical Cookies at the New York Musical Festival. Elise thanks the creative team for this wonderful opportunity and her family for all their love and support!

BRADLEY GREENWALD (Hank) Bradley played in A Year With Frog and Toad (Frog), Dr. Seuss's The Sneetches the Musical (McBean); The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man); Pinocchio; Buccaneers!; A Christmas Story; Dr. Seuss’s The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins (King Derwin); Bert & Ernie, Goodnight! (Bert); and The Snow Queen (Crow) on CTC’s stage. He has performed with Jungle Theater, Theater Latté Da, 10,000 Things, Nautilus Music-Theater, Minnesota Dance Theatre, VocalEssence, Frank Theatre, A Prairie Home Companion, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Guthrie Theater and Skylark Opera. He wrote the libretto for Libby Larsen’s opera A Wrinkle in Time; and C., a musical adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac produced by Theater Latté Da.

ALEJANDRO VEGA (Freddy) Alejandro is excited to return to CTC after appearing in Peter Pan The Musical; and The Wizard of Oz. Alejandro has performed with Theater Latté Da in Oliver!; Gypsy; and NEXT Festival 2017. He appeared in The Shining (Danny Torrance) with the Minnesota Opera; Damn Kids These Days in the Fringe Festival; The Passage with 7th House Theater/Guthrie Theater; and in Hennepin Theater Trust’s Spotlight Showcase, and Summer in the City. Alejandro will next be seen in Home for the Holidays with the Minnesota Orchestra; and in the world premiere of Five Points with Theater Latté Da.

ZACHARY HODGKINS (Zach) Zachary returns to his third CTC main stage production following Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches the Musical and Peter Pan the Musical. He also performed in three Junior Shows, (Dear Edwina; Beauty and the Beast; Willy Wonka JR.) Other credits include: Calvin Berger and Mockingbird (Youth Performance Company); and Buddy Holly (History Theatre); along with school and community productions. When not performing in or attending theatre, this SPCPA Junior loves to hang out with friends, family and dog Huxley. Zack wants to thank Econ 101 and Mr. Bailer for all that they taught him. Always strive to put the Biscuit in the Basket.

CARTER BANNWARTH (Ryan) Carter is excited for his 2nd appearance on the CTC stage! He most recently performed at Carnegie Hall for the New York Pops Birthday Gala; and has also performed at the Ordway Center (The Sound of Music; A Christmas Story); Chanhassen Dinner Theater (Camelot; Mary Poppins); and in CTC's World Premiere of Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical. Various television and voiceover work including the Nickelodeon Universe Fear2Fun ad, and numerous productions at Woodbury Community Theatre and Ashland Community Theater. Training: Woodbury Dance Center, private voice, piano, cello, guitar and percussion.

DOUG NEITHERCOTT (Coach, Papa Yeti, Ensemble) Doug is excited to return to Children's Theatre Company! A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, an avid cat lover and a former CTC Performing Apprentice, Doug has appeared on both CTC stages several times over the past 20 years. Some of his favorite roles include: The Boy in Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat; Quien Po in Disney's Mulan Jr.; Hubert Prentiss in The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle; and The Leading Actor in Reeling. Doug is also the Artistic Director and a 20-year veteran performer at CSz Twin Cities - the Home of ComedySportz and a regular director/choreographer for the Youth Performance Company.

Ensemble

LOGAN BAKER Logan is thrilled to be making his debut at Children’s Theatre Company in The Abominables. He is an 8th grader at Plymouth Middle School where he has been in productions of Guys and Dolls; and The Music Man. He also enjoys performing with Blue Theatre Company where he has been in six productions including playing Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie Jr. Logan was in the world premiere of I Love You Stinky Face at Stages Theatre Company in 2016. He wants to thank his family for all of their support and rides to the theater!

SAGE BRAHMSTEDT Sage is exhilarated to return to the CTC stage this year for The Abominables! Previously, she appeared in Cinderella for the holiday production. Sage is a rising junior at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. She has done theatre since the 3rd grade and has since appeared in many school productions; as well as some summer shows. Her most recent productions include Shipwrecked! (SPCPA); and Urinetown: The Musical (Southwest High School). Her hobbies include playing her ukulele and singing karaoke show tune tracks on YouTube. She thanks her family for their generous support!

HUNTER CONRAD Hunter is thrilled to be back on the CTC stage for the third time. When not on stage, you can find Hunter on the baseball field playing for his high school team. Hunter’s first production was at the age of 8 with Children’s Castle Theater, where he has since done several shows, including his most recent role as Prince Eric in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Hunter is also a Spotlight Education Award winner for his role as the Scarecrow in his high school production of The Wiz. He is grateful and humbled by all of these wonderful opportunities.

MEREDITH “MIMI” KOL-BALFOUR Mimi is excited to be returning to CTC for the world premiere of The Abominables. Mimi has also appeared at the Guthrie for The Music Man; the Ordway's West Side Story pre-show; and Youth Performance Company’s Oh Freedom. Mimi is a TV personality on SciGirls for PBS Kids; and TPT's Beyond The Book. She has appeared in numerous commercials, radio voiceover and in print. Mimi is a part of Owl City’s music recording and the Minneapolis Youth Choir. Mimi is trained in Vaganova, Cuban ballet, Horton technique and hip-hop. Besides theatre, Mimi’s truest loves are math and computer science. She attends SouthWest High School.

EVAN LATTA Evan is excited to join the cast of The Abominables! He has previously been in Shrek Jr. the Musical; The Little Mermaid; and Willy Wonka JR. on the Cargill Stage at Children’s Theatre Company. He will be starting school this fall as a sophomore at the St. Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts to follow his passion for musical theatre. He also takes weekly vocal lessons, trains at Ballet Royale and appears on stage as a competitive dancer with Studio 4 in Burnsville. He has been a competitive gymnast and loves to juggle and run in his spare time.

PEDER LINDELL Peder is thrilled to make his Children’s Theatre Company debut! Peder performed recently as the Boy with Trademark Theater’s The Boy and Robin Hood. Theater credits include: U of M Opera’s Gianni Schicchi; History Theatre’s Orphan Train; Theater Latté Da’s Gypsy; Jungle Theater’s On Golden Pond; Saint Olaf College (Big Fish; Albert Herring; Street Scene); and Lakes Area Music Festival (A Midsummer Night’s Dream; La Bohème; Hansel and Gretel.) Peder started skating at age 3, played hockey through Peewees, and still enjoys playing pond hockey with his friends. Peder is a 9th grader at Northfield High School.

RICHARD NORMAN Richard has enjoyed roles in Annie, Jr. and Fiddler on the Roof, Jr. at Notre Dame Academy. Richard’s hobbies include bicycling, most sports, reading and game programming. Richard is very excited for his first foray here with Children’s Theatre Company!

Understudies

DWIGHT LESLIE (Male Understudy) Dwight has enjoyed roles in Hair (Enlightened Theatrics); Next to Normal (New Theatre in the Square); World of Wonder (Matt Davenport Productions); Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; and Rock of Ages (McLeod Summer Playhouse); Godspell; Mary Poppins; Beauty & the Beast; and Once on This Island (Gainesville Theatre Alliance); Aida; Les Misérables; 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Fiddler on the Roof; and All in the Timing (Florida School of the Arts).

RAJANÉ KATURAH (Female Understudy) Rajané is ecstatic to be making her Children's Theatre Company debut! She is a 2017 alumna of Spelman College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and a minor in Spanish. Rajané also trained at the British American Drama Academy (BADA) in London, England. Selective theatre credits include: Born For This: The Bebe Winans Story (Alliance Theater); Gee's Bend (Spelman College); The Revenger's Tragedy (BADA); and Big River (The Unquowa Rep). Rajané is eternally grateful to God, her super supportive family and her guardian angel, Pop-pop! #DREAMBIG

ISAAC LEER (Freddy Hackenberg) Isaac is thrilled to make his debut with CTC for this show. Previous stage credits include the Guthrie Theatre's To Kill a Mockingbird (Dill); and A Christmas Carol (Ensemble); as well as numerous Northfield Arts Guild productions. Isaac is a 7th grader from Northfield, Minnesota, and enjoys playing piano, string bass and bass guitar, reading, playing soccer, and spending time with his cat, Victor. Big thanks to Mom and Dad for the taxi service!

STEVE COSSON (Director, Playwright)
Steve is a director and writer. He has originated and developed many original plays and musicals. Recently, The Undertaking (BAM Next Wave, US tour, Theatre de la Ville, Paris); José Rivera’s Another Word for Beauty (Goodman Theatre); Rimbaud in New York (BAM); Pretty Filthy (The Civilians at Abrons Art Center); the Off Broadway revival of The Belle of Amherst starring Joely Richardson. The Great Immensity (The Public Theater, Kansas City Rep); Anne Washburn’s Mr. Burns, a post-electric play (Playwrights Horizons, Woolly Mammoth), The Great Immensity (The Public Theater, Kansas City Rep); This Beautiful City (Vineyard, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Humana Festival); and many others.

MICHAEL FRIEDMAN (Music, Lyrics and Orchestrations)
Michael’s musicals include Unknown Soldier; The Fortress of Solitude; Love’s Labour’s Lost; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and many works with the company The Civilians. He has been the Barron Visiting Professor at the Princeton Environmental Institute and artist-in-residence at Spring Workshop Hong Kong. An evening of his songs was featured in Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series, and he received an OBIE Award for sustained achievement. His series of songs about the 2016 elections can be heard on the New Yorker Radio Hour on WNYC. He is currently Artistic Director of City Center Encores! Off-Center and Artist in Residence and Director of the Public Forum at the Public Theater.

JOE CHVALA (Choreographer)
Joe is the founder and artistic director of the highly-acclaimed percussive dance company, the Flying Foot Forum. Chvala has directed, choreographed and been commissioned to create new works for a variety of theater and dance companies such as the Guthrie Theater, the Walker Art Center, Children’s Theatre Company, Gothenburg’s Balettakademien, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, Park Square Theatre and Zenon Dance Company. He has been the recipient of both Ivey and Sage awards for theater and dance as well as numerous choreographic and interdisciplinary awards, fellowships and grants from such organizations as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Minnesota State Arts Board, Target and the McKnight Foundation.

ANDREW FLESER (Music Director)
Andrew was music director for the Theatre Arts Training production of Spring Awakening at Children’s Theatre Company. He has also served as music director for organizations throughout the Twin Cities, including History Theatre (Glensheen; Orphan Train; The Working Boys Band; This Side of Paradise; The Christmas Schooner); Skylark Opera (Putting It Together; The Fantasticks); and Mu Performing Arts/Park Square Theatre (Flower Drum Song). Andrew is also a classical pianist and vocal coach in the Twin Cities, and can be heard on Minnesota Public Radio and A Prairie Home Companion.

ANDREW BOYCE (Scenic Designer)
Andrew is a Chicago-based designer working in theatre, opera, and film/TV. NY credits include: Lincoln Center Theater, Roundabout Theater Company, Atlantic Theater Company and Playwrights Realm. Regional credits include: Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alliance, A.C.T. (SF), American Players, Asolo Rep, California Shakespeare Theater, Dallas Theater Center, The Geffen, George Street Playhouse, The Goodman, Kirk Douglas, The Magic Theater, Mark Taper Forum, Milwaukee Rep, Old Globe, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Yale Rep. Andrew is a member of the design collective Wingspace, is a graduate of Yale School of Drama and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Northwestern University Theater Department.andrewboycedesign.com

STEN SEVERSON (Sound Designer)
Sten has designed sound on Broadway, London’s West End, Off-Broadway and in numerous Regional theaters. He is a partner in Acme Sound Partners, who have collectively garnered five Tony® nominations and four Drama Desk awards. Selected credits: Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches the Musical; Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical; Peter Pan the Musical (CTC); Hair; Merchant of Venice (Broadway); The Total Bent (Public Theater – won an Audelco Award); Hamlet; Othello; Comedy of Errors (Old Globe in San Diego); Into the Woods; King Lear (Delacorte Theater in Central Park). He has taught at NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts and the Yale School of Drama.

ELISSA ADAMS (Dramaturg)
Elissa is the Director of New Play Development at CTC. Since 1998, she has overseen the commissioning and development of more than 45 new plays that have premiered at CTC. Previously, she served as Director of Playwright Services at The Playwrights’ Center and Literary Manager at La Jolla Playhouse. She is a frequent guest Dramaturg at the Sundance Theatre Lab. Elissa is an Artistic Associate with Theater Latté Da, teaches a course in the theatrical process at MCAD, and has served on the board of Open Eye Figure Theatre and TYA/USA. Elissa was a 2007 recipient of a McKnight Foundation Theater Artist Fellowship.

RYAN BOURQUE (Fight & Hockey Choreographer)
Ryan has acted in and choreographed the violence for The Glory of the World at Brooklyn Academy of Music Harvey Theater and Actors Theatre. Other credits: Underground Railroad Game (Ars Nova); Twelfth Night (The Public Theater); Macbeth; Recent Alien Abductions (Actors Theater of Louisville); Lookingglass Theatre Company; Victory Gardens Theater; Steppenwolf Theatre Company; The Hypocrites. He won the 2015 Joseph Jefferson Award for his fight design in All Our Tragic.

LEAH JENSEN (Assistant Director)
Leah is so excited to rejoin her CTC family as assistant director for The Abominables! Leah is a recent college graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where she majored in theatre art and minored in women’s and gender studies. Previously at CTC she has been a student and has worked as a summer teaching assistant in their Theatre Arts Training program. Leah would like to thank her parents for all of their support in her theatrical career and hopes everyone enjoys the show!

KATIE DEUTSCH (Assistant Lighting Director)
Katie is excited to be a part of the creative team after being a Lighting Design Intern for Theatre Arts Training’s productions of Annie Jr. and Hair at CTC this past summer. She graduated this past May from the University of Minnesota with her B.A. in Theatre Arts with a focus in Design and Technology. She designed for High Jinx; Within Our Skin(s) in the University Dance Theater (University of Minnesota Twin Cities). She has worked with many companies around the Twin Cities including History Theatre, Pillsbury House + Theatre, and Penumbra Theatre Company.

STACY MCINTOSH (Stage Manager)
Stacy is in her 20th season at CTC. Some of her favorite credits include: The Jungle Book; The Biggest Little House in the Forest; A Wrinkle in Time; A Christmas Story; Five Fingers of Funk!; Bud, Not Buddy; Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse (1999); Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas; and A Year with Frog and Toad (CTC and Broadway). Stacy has also worked in San Francisco and New York. Her hockey credits include Stage Managing the NHL Stadium Series. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. She would like to thank Dean and her biggest accomplishments Henry and Emmet, for their love, patience and great ideas.

NATE STANGER (Assistant Stage Manager)
Nate is proud to be back at Children’s Theatre Company. His previous credits include: Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches the Musical; Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical; The Jungle Book; and The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats. Since graduating from the University of Minnesota, he has been fortunate to work with such companies as The Guthrie (The Parchman Hour); The Ordway (Jesus Christ Superstar; White Christmas; A Chorus Line; The Sound of Music; Pirates of Penzance; Damn Yankees; A Christmas Story); Park Square Theatre (Amy’s View; and Romeo and Juliet); and Walking Shadow Theatre Company.

SONJA THORSON (Assistant Stage Manager)
Sonja, a proud member of AEA, is excited to be back in Minnesota and at Children’s Theatre Company after working in NYC for the last few years. CTC: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; Dr. Seuss’s The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. Select Broadway/Regional/New York credits include: Long Day’s Journey into Night (Roundabout); The Servant of Two Masters (Theatre for a New Audience); Owners (Yale Repertory Theatre); Afterland (Yale Institute for Music Theatre); and You Got Older (Page 73). Sonja received her BS from South Dakota State University and her MFA from the Yale School of Drama. Thanks to Mom, Dad, Berit, Corrie and Jenny Friend for everything.

EVA CHASTAIN (Stage Management Intern)
Eva is thrilled to work with CTC this season! In the past, she has managed shows such as Cats; Miss Saigon; Red, White and Tuna; Sideshow; and 101 Dalmatians at Casa Mañana, Fort Worth. At the Conservatory of Fine Arts, Webster University she managed The Philadelphia Story and The Miser. She has also managed You’re a Good Man… and Look Up, an original work with Kids Who Care, Fort Worth. During high school She received the Dallas Summer Musical High School Musical Theatre Award for Best Crew and Technical Execution for management of her high school production of Peter Pan (2015).

COLETRANE T. JOHNSON (Stage Management Intern)
Coletrane has previously enjoyed roles as a student actor in Pippi Longstocking; and Alice in Wonderland (Children's Theatre Company). He directed productions of Little Women; Seussical; Tarzan; and Fiddler On The Roof (Highland Park Community Center Theatre); Dog Sees God: Confessions Of A Teenage Blockhead; and Superhero Sanitarium (Washburn High School). He acted in an original show at The Theatre School at DePaul, and has been seen onstage locally in Blood Brothers; and Jesus Christ Superstar (The Chameleon Theatre Circle), as well as toured around the Midwest as an actor-educator with CLIMB Theatre.

THE CIVILIANS is a theater company dedicated to creating and producing work that dynamically engages our broader social and political environment. Since its founding in 2001 by Artistic Director Steve Cosson and a company of artists, The Civilians has achieved acclaim as the premier investigative theater company in the country. The Obie award-winning group draws from community interviews, research, residencies, and other methods to devise innovative work that explores some of today’s most intriguing topics. Now in its 17th year, its productions have taken the stage at notable theaters such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theater, La Jolla Playhouse and the American Repertory Theater, as well as at arts presenters and festivals in over 40 cities around the globe. thecivilians.org

Performance Description

CTC’s The Abominables is a musical performance by a large cast of adults and student actors. This production is a world premiere - that means this is the first time it’s ever been performed. The show was commissioned, developed, and originally produced through our new play development lab, Threshold, here at Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, MN and will be produced in association with The Civilians in New York. This production was inspired by interviews with students and families around Minnesota.

This production takes place on the UnitedHealth Group Stage which seats up to 745 people.

Approximate run time: 2 hours including one 15-minute intermission.

Plot Synopsis

written by Elissa Adams, Director of New Play Development Be warned: This is a complete synopsis of the play, so it is full of spoilers.

It's a big day in Prairie Lakes, Minnesota— the local youth hockey league, the Blizzards, are holding team tryouts! Mitch and his pals have played hockey together since they were little. This year, they are looking forward to making the Bantam Boys “A” team, and, hopefully, finally beating their rivals—the team from Thunder Bay, Canada. But a new kid has moved to Prairie Lakes and he's at tryouts too. As soon as Mitch hears about the new kid, he begins to worry that he won't get a spot on the team and as tryouts commence, out onto the ice skates the new kid—Harry. Harry is big, fast, a super skater and...a yeti. Adopted by a mountain-climbing couple who found him alone in the snow in the Himalayas, Harry and his family have moved to Prairie Lakes so that Harry can play hockey. Sure enough, when the team rosters are announced, Harry has made the “A” team and Mitch has not. Harry, who loves hockey, but would really just like to make some new friends, offers to give his spot on the team to Mitch. But Harry's parents feel like that would look like Harry is “giving up,” and Mitch's sister, Tracy—a proud member of the Blizzard girl's “B” team—tells Mitch that Harry won the spot on the team fair and square and that Mitch should accept the results and have fun playing on the “B” team. Mitch agrees, but grudgingly. A few days later, at hockey practice, Harry tries to make friends with Mitch, but Mitch lashes out at Harry and tells him everyone is only pretending to like Harry and that Harry should go back to “Yetiland” where he belongs. Hurt and angry, Harry skates away. During B team practice, Mitch is so distracted by watching Harry and the “A” team boys practicing together that he ends up crashing into the boards. Mitch's parents', concerned that perhaps he has a concussion, take him home. As Mitch sleeps, he begins to dream and, in his dream, his parents tell him that they are actually yetis, too, and that Harry is their real son! Freaked out, the idea comes to Mitch in his dream that he should write a letter to Harry's yeti parents, who must be somewhere in the Himalayas missing him, and tell them to come get Harry. Then Harry will go away and Mitch can have his spot back on the “A” team. Mitch convinces himself that his dream plan is good for everyone and he sends off a letter to the Himalayas. Pretty soon, it is time for all of the Blizzards to head up to Thunder Bay, Canada for a weekend hockey tournament. Mitch goes, hoping that Harry's yeti parents will arrive and take Harry away before the “A” team plays their big game against Thunder Bay and that, with Harry gone, Mitch will take his place back on the “A” team and help them, finally, win against Canada. Meanwhile, all of the hockey players and their families are cheering for Harry, convinced that he is the one who will finally help the Blizzards win. Mitch mentions to Harry that maybe his yeti parents will find him—wouldn’t that be great? And better for Harry? Harry responds vehemently that he already HAS a family that he loves and he would never leave Prairie Lakes. Mitch then tells Harry that, while everything may be great for Harry now, the minute he slips up or makes a mistake or loses a game, people—maybe even his family—won’t love him anymore. And then where will he be? As the big game against Thunder Bay approaches, Harry, begins to doubt himself. What will happen if the team doesn't win? Will everyone blame him? Will he not have any friends anymore? Rather than wait for that to happen, Harry runs away right before the big game is about to begin. Realizing the “A” team can’t win without Harry—and that he’s the one responsible for Harry running away, Mitch dons a yeti mascot costume and joins the team on the ice, disguised as Harry. The game begins and the “A” team is holding their own—they just might beat Thunder Bay! But suddenly, Harry's yeti parents DO arrive and, mistaking Mitch for Harry, run out on the ice, disrupting the game. Mitch can't help but reveal that he's not actually Harry. Realizing that, not only Harry has disappeared, but no one knows where Harry and Mitch’s little brother and sister, Freddy and Lily are, everyone goes in search of the missing children. When they find them, safely ensconced in an igloo they built for themselves, Harry's yeti parents and adoptive parents both express their love for Harry and take a first step toward getting to know each other. Mitch's parents convince him that they will love him even if he isn't the best hockey player in Prairie Lakes and everyone comes together for a game of pond hockey.

Content Advisories:

Language:2 out of 5 Competitive, argumentative and middle school language including “Shut up,” “Hell” and "Nut Cup," and bullying phrases

Themes and Situations:3 out of 5 One of the boys was adopted. Discussion around parental abandonment. Biological parents show up near the end of the play. Two kids get lost in a snowstorm. General bullying. Adults mention beer and martinis.

Violence & Scariness:2out of 5 General hockey fights. A Yeti becomes angry, roars loudly and charges at other kids.

Sensory Advisories:2 out of 5 Loud yelling from the hockey audience members. A Yeti roars loudly. Strobe lights, fog, whistles and loud buzzers during hockey games and practices.

Potentially Anxious Moments:3 out of 5 Two children get lost in a snowstorm. General bullying and teasing. Biological parents show up near the end of the play. A child gets lost and is adopted by another set of parents.

Special note: This production contains potentially triggering situations surrounding adoption. If you and/or your child have adoptive experiences, please contact the ticket office at 612.874.0400 for detailed information.

Welcome, School Groups!

Children’s Theatre Company offers Weekday Student Matinee performances for your classroom, homeschool, or community educational group. Attending a CTC performance ignites students’ creativity, while supporting your curriculum and learning goals. Thanks to grants and our generous donors, student matinee tickets are available at a significantly lower price than our public performances and are further discounted for schools with a free and reduced lunch rate of 30% or higher. Information about themes, length, curriculum connections and state standards along with a full synopsis for each show is available on our student matinee webpage.

Find Us

Connect

Privacy Policy

Thank you for reviewing the privacy policy and disclaimer.

Children’s Theatre Company (“CTC”) is committed to providing a safe online experience. We collect no personally identifying information, unless you choose to provide us with that information. This statement of Privacy applies to the CTC website and governs data collection and usage. By using the CTC website, you consent to the data practices described in this statement.

COLLECTION OF PERSON INFORMATION
If you visit our site to browse, read, watch videos or download, we automatically collect and store only the following information about you:

The IP address from which you access our Web site (an IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.)

The type of browser and operating system used to access our site

The date and time you access our site

The pages you visit

and The Internet address of the Web site from which you accessed our site

This information is used to improve the functionality of the website—to learn about the number of visitors to our site and the types of technology our visitors use. We do not track or record information about individuals and their visits. We may compile and report aggregate statistics about our users — numbers, traffic patterns, and related site information — but these statistics will include no personally identifying information. CTC is not responsible for privacy statements or other content on websites outside of CTC, including those linked from CTC’s website.

USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

If you identify yourself by submitting mailing list, donor or ticket request forms contained in the site, we use that information only to respond to your message and to help us provide you with the material you have requested or to send you a written acknowledgment of your donation as required by law, or to verify and/or mail purchases and/or to process your ticket order.

You have the option to contact us by phone or by email (web@childrenstheatre.org) to request that we remove your name from our mailing and/or calling and/or trade list. If you opt to be taken off our mailing list, you will receive no mail from us, including publications or special notices. If you opt to be removed from our calling list, you will receive no calls from us except when a performance is canceled. We will not sell, trade or share a donor’s personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations. If you are not a donor and you opt to be removed from our trade list, we will not provide your name to other arts organizations that might be making special offers or anyone else.

USE OF COOKIES

CTC’s website uses "cookies" to help you personalize your online experience. A cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard disk by a web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.

The purpose of a cookie is to tell the web server that you have returned to a specific page. We and our advertising partners, including advertising networks, use information gathered through cookies and other similar technologies, as well as other information we or they may have, to help tailor the ads you see on our sites and to help make decisions about the ads you see on other sites. To opt-out of targeted adversity from many ad networks visit: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies. Please be aware that some web pages may not work correctly if cookies are disabled. More information is available here: http://www.aboutcookies.org.

CREDIT CARD SUBMISSION

All credit card transactions including ticket purchases and donations is processed on a secure server. Credit card information is protected by encryption technology, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol. This helps to assure information is protected from unauthorized access.

CHANGES TO STATEMENT

CTC may occasionally update our Statement of Privacy to reflect customer feedback or changing technologies. CTC encourages you to review this statement periodically.

CONTACT

CTC welcomes comments and questions about or Statement of Privacy. If you believe CTC has not adheared to this statement, please contact us at web@childrenstheatre.org.

DISCLAIMER

Under no circumstances shall CTC, its employees or contractors be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, punitive or consequential damages that may result in any way from your use or inability to use the information provided on this or any other web site supported or maintained by CTC or from your reliance on or use of information, services or merchandise provided on or through the web site or that result from mistakes, errors, omissions, interruptions, defects, deletion of files, delays in operation or transmission or any failure of performance. If you are dissatisfied with the information provided on this web site, or with any of the practices of the CTC in the operation of this web site, your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue using the web site.